Arts Fell on Alabama

George Culver: Puttin' on the Ritz

George Culver is a producer, arts administrator, and the former executive director of Talladega’s Ritz Theatre. His innovative approach to theatre programming and background as a producer helped transform the Ritz into an indispensable cultural asset for audiences throughout East Alabama.  
Special appreciation to Stefani Priskos, Director of the Alabama Center for Traditional Culture at the Alabama State Council on the Arts, for conducting the interview.  
Arts Fell on Alabama airs weekly on Troy Public Radio. © 2026 Alabama State Council on the Art.    

Yogi Dada: From Wounded Heart to Wearable Art

Yogi Dada is a multidisciplinary artist whose work spans painting, poetry, music, and wearable art. Inspired by her mother’s early lessons and shaped by years of creative exploration, she transforms personal memory and emotion into bold, colorful earrings she calls “Dadas.” Based in Center Point, Ala., her custom jewelry tells stories of resilience, identity, and self-expression. Learn more at YogiDada.com.
Arts Fell on Alabama airs weekly on Troy Public Radio. © 2026 Alabama State Council on the Art.   
 

Ashley Jeffcoat: A Dyed-in-the-wool Entrepreneur

Ashley Jeffcoat is the owner and fiber artist behind Paper Crane Yarns, a hand-dyed yarn studio based in Calera, Alabama. Working from her self-described “secret lab of wonderment,” she creates small-batch colorways inspired by a wide range of influences including literature, film, video games, and natural landscapes. Her distinctive yarn collections serve as a foundation for connection and creative exchange, and Ashley’s homey cottagecore shop fosters a sense of community among local and visiting makers alike. See her creations and more at papercraneyarns.com. 
Arts Fell on Alabama airs weekly on Troy Public Radio. © 2026 Alabama State Council on the Art.   
Eight-bit sound effect by freesound_community from Pixabay. 
Music by Dvir Silverstone from Pixabay. 

Gary Waldrep: Sand Mountain's Music Man

Gary Waldrep is best known for his skill as a banjo player, performing and preserving the traditions of bluegrass and old-time music. He has also worked as a teaching artist for several decades and has received multiple grants through the Alabama State Council on the Arts’ Folk Arts Apprenticeship program.  
Special thanks to Anne Kimzey, folklorist and literary arts program manager at the Alabama State Council on the Arts, who interviewed Mr. Waldrep for this episode. Music provided courtesy of Gary Waldrep. 
Arts Fell on Alabama airs weekly on Troy Public Radio. © 2026 Alabama State Council on the Art.  

Eric Essix: Southbound and Soul-Deep

Eric Essix is a guitarist and recording artist who lives and works in Birmingham, Alabama. He has released 29 albums to date maintaining a steady flow of new music that continues to push the boundaries of contemporary jazz. He has toured extensively with his own band, the Eric Essix Group, and with dozens of A-list artists as a sideman. In 1991, he was the youngest musician to be inducted into the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame. Building on a foundation of faith and heritage, Essix continues to produce new music and participate in educating and mentoring the next generation of Alabama’s jazz musicians.  
People Get Ready was used with permission from Eric Essix. 
Arts Fell on Alabama airs weekly on Troy Public Radio. © 2026 Alabama State Council on the Art. 
 

Gary Chapman: Black and White and Art All Over

Gary Chapman is professor emeritus of painting and drawing at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. As an artist, he’s had an extensive career marked by solo and group exhibitions at national and international venues, as well as numerous grants and artist fellowship awards. He is a recipient of the 2026 Arts Impact Award from the Alabama State Council on the Arts. Learn more at garychapmanart.com. 
Special thanks to Dr. Laura King for conducting the interview. 
Arts Fell on Alabama airs weekly on Troy Public Radio. © 2026 Alabama State Council on the Art. 

Debbie Bond: Happy to Have the Blues

Debbie Bond is an internationally performing blues musician who splits her time between England, France, and Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Along with Michael McCracken, she co-founded the award-winning Alabama Blues Project, a nonprofit dedicated to promoting and preserving the state’s blues heritage. The organization’s blues education initiatives have included in-school and after-school programs, exhibitions, workshops, and live Alabama blues showcases, impacting tens of thousands of people of all ages. 
Special thanks to Laura King, who conducted the interview. “Enjoy the Ride” used courtesy of Debbie Bond. 
Arts Fell on Alabama airs weekly on Troy Public Radio. © 2026 Alabama State Council on the Art. 

Erin Langley: Directing the Nicholson Center’s Next Act

High on the bluff in Old Town Daphne, an old community hall is stepping back into the spotlight. Eastern Shore Repertory Theatre founder and executive director Erin Langley is leading the renovation of the Nicholson Center, transforming it into a vibrant hub that will empower local performers, give access for all audiences, and elevate the cultural life of Alabama's Eastern Shore.  Her vision: a theater legacy that will serve generations to come.
Arts Fell on Alabama airs weekly on Troy Public Radio. © 2026 Alabama State Council on the Art. 

Ben Kaiser: Sticking to Mardi Gras Tradition

Mobile, Alabama’s Ben Kaiser (@ben.kaiser_art) is the owner and CEO of Mirth Artists, a Mardi Gras float production company. He and his team work year-round to design and build traditional papier-mâché floats for several of Mobile's most historic krewes including the Knights of Revelry, Crewe of Columbus, and Infant Mystics.
Every year, Kaiser consults with each group's parade committee to develop relevant themes and new, jaw-dropping designs. Then, together with his team of 15 artisans, they bring them to life as large-scale rolling tableaus. His mission, he says, is to preserve and showcase Mobile’s 300-year-old Mardi Gras float-building tradition.
Arts Fell on Alabama airs weekly on Troy Public Radio. © 2026 Alabama State Council on the Art. 
Sound Credits: 
Car Arriving, Idling, and Pulling Away by leonelmail -- https://freesound.org/s/429405/ -- License: Creative Commons 0 
MardiGras-Rex_2011_parade-amb.wav by soundesigner --https://freesound.org/s/116398/ -- License: Attribution 4.0 

Randi Pink: Mapping the Future

In a quiet room at the Homewood Public Library, young adult author Randi Pink is chasing her dream one sentence at a time. Here why Randi is working to put her name -- and Black stories -- literally on the map.
Learn more about Randi at RandiPink.com.
Arts Fell on Alabama airs weekly on Troy Public Radio. © 2026 Alabama State Council on the Art. 

Mary Rhodes: Pulling Out All the Stops

A church organist reflects on a “two‑week” fill‑in job that became a 50‑year calling and shares how sacred music, sacrifice, and joy shape her life at the keyboard.
Arts Fell on Alabama airs weekly on Troy Public Radio. © 2026 Alabama State Council on the Art. 

C.H. Wilson: All Hands on Art

C.H. Wilson is a Navy veteran living in Birmingham who finds healing and community while participating in InToto Creative Arts programs at his local VA.  
Arts Fell on Alabama airs weekly on Troy Public Radio. © 2026 Alabama State Council on the Art.